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Malloy Budget: Two Years, Nearly $40 Billion

Policy aides for the speaker of the house distribute copies of the budget in the Democratic caucus room at the Capitol, in Hartford, Conn., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is presenting his first two-year budget for Connecticut, during a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday at noon. The plan raises taxes across-the-board, seeks $2 billion in savings from state employees and attempts to cut spending without stripping programs for the needy. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)(Credit: Jessica Hil/AP Photo)

By SUSAN HAIGH, Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy unveiled a budget Wednesday that would try to close the state’s funding shortfall by raising taxes across the board and seeking billions of dollars in concessions from state employees, but avoid the massive layoffs and draconian spending cuts seen in other struggling states.

The new Democratic governor, who appeared before a joint session of the Democratic controlled General Assembly, said the state faces a historic opportunity to renew people’s faith in government and begin growing much-needed jobs.

“The tide is turning for us if we step up and work hard with courage and conviction. I hope you agree,” Malloy told the lawmakers during his televised address. “We are here for a purpose. This is our time to do what we were elected to do, to fix what’s broken once and for all.”

A $3.2 billion deficit is projected for in the fiscal year that begins July 1, and Connecticut’s unemployment rate was 9 percent in December.

Much of the details of Malloy’s two-year, nearly $40 billion budget have been revealed in recent days, including proposed consolidations of state agencies and proposed increases in taxes including the personal income, gas and sales tax. Numerous services once exempt from the sales tax would now be taxed, such dog grooming and yoga studios.

For the first time, however, Malloy publicly suggested $2 billion in possible concessions the state’s approximately 50,000 state employees could make to help cover the state’s budget gap. For example, he said moving state employees to a health benefits package like the one covering federal employees would save about $300 million over two years.

Three more furlough days over two years would save $80 million.

Malloy, who was strongly backed by unions during the 2010 gubernatorial election, said he knows state employees agreed to concessions under former Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration. But he said it’s not enough.

“I need to ask them to do what I’m asking everyone else across the state to do: more,” Malloy said. “Because their current wage, health care and pension benefit levels are simply not sustainable.”

Union leaders have said they are willing to work with Malloy. They’ve already been meeting with the governor’s staff, but have yet to discuss collective bargaining issues. Malloy made it clear he wants those talks to begin soon. He said he appreciates the savings ideas suggested by state employees but acknowledged they fall far short of what’s needed.

“The time has come to take the next step and begin discussions regarding concessions,” Malloy said. “I don’t make these suggestions to be antagonistic. Just realistic.”

Malloy has received some criticism from the minority Republicans for relying too much on raising taxes. His budget calls for $1.5 billion in tax increases for the first year of the two-year budget.

Is This man nuts or just plan stupid ? This man should be immediately impeached as well as all the state legistators. All the bums should be thown out like in the mid east these idiots have no clue & are the one that created this problem. What is the governor afraid of about laying off State Employess like NY is threating to do & NJ has done? This Governor is nothing more then a lap dog for the state unions.

What is it with Connecticut? First it was the lottery. The lottery was going to save us. Where is all that lottery money now? Then it was the casinos. Look at all the money we were going to get from the casinos. Where is all that casino money now? CT just continues to spend and spend and spend and now they want to raise taxes on its citizens a great many of which are unemployed. Where do they think the citizens of CT are going to get this money? And they wonder why the young people move out of state once they graduate college. I think the statement that Church and State made about there being a VERY telling message in Pfizer’s telling the state of CT that it was moving to Cambridge, MA because it is cheaper to do business there is as Church and State said VERY telling.

That didn’t take long. This ain’t nothing that Malloy didn’t do in Stamford. It’s simple, raise taxes and keep the welfare state afloating. Thanks to all the Dems in CT for voting for yet another joker.